2019 November Reading Challenge

[Elizabeth]

The November Reading challenge is to read a book that was recommended to you by a friend or a family member. Let us know what you're reading and when you've finished so that you can be entered into the prize drawing.

Have fun!

[Lisa]

I am reading wicked deep by shea earnshaw I started it last month but I didn't have a chance to finish it before end of October.

[Debbie]

I decided to do a re-read of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. A friend asked if I thought there were a lot of similarities to it and Bronte's Jane Eyre. It's been so long since I'd read Rebecca that I decided to read it again to see. My first reaction was "not really". I'll see if that changes after I read it.

[rebekah]

I'm reading I'm Traveling Alone by Samuel Bjork, as recommended by my mystery thriller loving friend. I'm excited, still in a good spooky mood from October!

[Melissa]

I’m reading The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman. I’m part of the Bookstagram community on Instagram and had this one recommended to me by several friends. I’m really enjoying it so far!

[Debbie]

I have finished Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. For my friend's question about similarities to Jane Eyre the answer IS "not really".

[Carolyn]

When I told family members about the challenge for this month, I was not surprised that they started lobbying for me to read some of Brandon Mull's series that I haven't gotten to yet. However, since I'm not in the mood for those at the moment, I came up with something else. I think I'm going to try Spinning Silver which one of my sisters really enjoyed. There may also be a re-read (via audio book) of the first Harry Potter book which a college friend originally recommended to me way back when.

[Greg]

I'm reading The Accidental Superpower by Peter Zeihan, which was recommended to me by a coworker.

[Elizabeth]

Halfway through the month. Anyone else taken up the challenge?

[Carolyn]

I'm saving "Spinning Silver" for another time, but I finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- listening really since I chose the audio book this time. As I mentioned, it was originally recommended to me by a college friend years ago. Also, I've heard good things about Jim Dale as a narrator. Of the various characters, I especially liked his narration of Professor McGonagall and Hagrid.

[Debbie]

Carolyn wrote: "I'm saving "Spinning Silver" for another time, but I finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- listening really since I chose the audio book this time. As I mentioned, i..."

Jim Dale did them all and did a fantastic job. I loved his portrayal of the Sorting Hat for each book.

[Becky]

I read Baby Teeth, which was a creepy freak show that I would not necessarily recommend, though my friend recommended it to me. Now I'm reading Where the Crawdads Sing, which has been widely recommended. I think I'll like it better.

[Stephanie]

I'm part of a bookish online community and quite a few of the folks in the group had been recommending the book Aru Shah and the End of Time. Thanks to a cold getting the better of me, I had a few days off and was able to power through that book. It was indeed fantastic and full of adventure and charm, and I'm glad I got the recommendation and read it! ♥

[Greg]

Debbie wrote: Jim Dale did them all and did a fantastic job."

Stephen Fry also did audio recordings of the series, I believe his readings were of the original British publications, so there are some differences. They are also very, very good.

[Debbie]

I'm cautious when actors do audio books as I've seen that several are abridged. For instance, every recording of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens done by a well known actor is an abridged version. I thought about getting the Patrick Stewart one, but ....

[Elizabeth]

This is my favorite Stephen Fry story about Harry Potter.
https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadio4/vi...

:)

[Debbie]

Elizabeth wrote: "This is my favorite Stephen Fry story about Harry Potter.
https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadio4/vi...

:)"
That IS funny. Benedict Cumberbatch narrated a nature film about penguins, as well as other animals. But he could not pronounce "penguins"; he pronounced it ping-wings. He would practice and practice saying it properly, have it down, and then, recording, out would come "ping-wings". And now he's terrified of the word. Poor fellow.

[Alyson]

I listened to "Heaven is for Real", which my sister recommended. It was a nice read, although I feel like the Dad pushed a little hard to prove his story instead of just telling it and letting it speak for itself.

[Linda]

When I was discussing with my son-in-law books that we had read, he suggested to me that I read a book by C.S. Lewis that is not a Narnia book. Because it is short, I read .

[Carolyn]

Linda wrote: "When I was discussing with my son-in-law books that we had read, he suggested to me that I read a book by C.S. Lewis that is not a Narnia book. Because it is short, I read [bookcover:The Great Divo..."

I read that a few years ago and found it interesting.

[Audrey]

I loved Spinning Silver.

I'd like to hear Stephen Fry do Harry Potter; Jim Dale's voice grates on my nerves. I heard that Fry's version is only in the UK and Dale's version is only in the US.

[Debbie]

You might be able to get the CDs by ordering through; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Potter...
It is the Stephen Fry version. And you might be able to find the others from this link. Prices are, of course, in British Pounds.

I got the full process of ordering it, shy of hitting the "order" button, and had no problems.

[Greg]

Debbie wrote: "I'm cautious when actors do audio books as I've seen that several are abridged. For instance, every recording of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens done by a well know..."

Usually, you can tell if they're not abridged by a label saying so.

As for A Christmas Carol, the Mormon Channel did a recording a few years back that is phenomenal. I used to listen to a Librivox recording of it that I didn't love, but then my brother turned me on to the other. Full and unabridged, it can be downloaded for free at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/i...

[Greg]

Audrey wrote: "I loved Spinning Silver.

I'd like to hear Stephen Fry do Harry Potter; Jim Dale's voice grates on my nerves. I heard that Fry's version is only in the UK and Dale's version is only in the US."

I got the Stephen Fry recordings through eBooks Now https://ebooksnow.org/

[Debbie]

Greg wrote: "I got the Stephen Fry recordings through eBooks Now https://ebooksnow.org/"

They aren't listed there now. None of the original Harry Potters are there. Alas.

[Elizabeth]

Our winner for the November 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge is Lisa for reading The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw. Congratulations!

[Debbie]

Hooray, Lisa!

[Elizabeth]

Lisa wrote: "I am reading wicked deep by shea earnshaw I started it last month but I didn't have a chance to finish it before end of October."

Lisa, please contact me for info on how to get your prize.

Thanks,
Elizabeth